In the News 2025

Drawing on the theme of love, restaurants are offering specially made pizzas and other creative menu ideas this Valentine's Day. The public demonstration of love and affection is in full view at many restaurants around town! -Contributed by Jana Fortier

As of February 2025, several restaurants throughout San Diego County have faced immediate closures due to vermin infestations. By teaching restaurants proper protocol, the health department aims to implement more safety measures to improve food quality and  protect the public.  - Contributed by Isabella Le

China's famous Yangcheng Lake crab evolved from a luxury food for the wealthy to a common delicacy. However, this expansion has been met with obstacles, such as counterfeit products and variable quality, particularly in online markets.

-Ke Wang 

Visalia based couple Miguel and Mikayla Reyes started a customizable, build-your-own quesadilla shop in 2013 without the expectation that business would be booming. Now, with five locations available, the Reyes' are having fun coming up with a wide variety of options, even offering mac-n-cheese quesadillas.

-Amanda Parmele

After two years of renovations, the founders of Panda Express reopened Panda Inn. Panda Inn aims to turn regional Chinese dishes into new elevated classics. Some notable dishes include the orange chicken, braised lion's head meatballs, and olive flounder sashimi.  

-Vivian Xiang 

Rosemary Farm, an egg producer based in Santa Maria donated 324,000 eggs to the nonprofit Gather for Good and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to help victims of the Los Angeles Fires. The eggs donated from Rosemary Farm will cover around 8,000 meals.

-Andrew Choi

The FDA announced a trio of new rules in the beginning of 2025 in order to make it easier for consumers to find healthy foods. Contributed by Salim El Khishin

An insider story with Kim Severence, a reporter based in Atlanta who writes about food culture for The New York Times: the way we eat reflects where we are as a society.
Contributed by Amna Shafi

Written by a doctor and a lawmaker,  the article highlights the growing obesity crisis, with over 42% of U.S. adults and 20% of children affected. It is a call for reformation, including prioritizing nutrition in medical education, investing in preventive care, and holding food industry actors accountable. 

-Contributed by Katelin Macario

In fear of any more price increases from higher tariffs, consumers are purchasing goods to stock up for the long term. 

Contributed by Joanne Kim

A recent study found nearly 300 food recalls in 2024 with even more hospitalizations. While the number of recalls don’t say much about the US food supply, with the number of hospitalizations and deaths from food nearly doubling in the recent year, is very significant. Lately more food recalls don’t necessarily indicate less food safety but more trough testing done by regulators. 

Kleis McCartney-Johnston

The ongoing egg shortage caused by avian influenza has led to a spike in egg prices, affecting small businesses that rely on eggs, such as bakeries, restaurants and farms. Some business owners are raising prices, introducing temporary surcharges, or tweaking recipes to use fewer eggs, while others are exploring vegan alternatives or different ways of making pasta. 

--Jiaming Cao

Rising inflation, supply shortages, and now potential federal cuts to Medicaid and food assistance grants are putting added pressure on programs that serve thousands across the islands revolving around Hawaii. 

Julian Rodriguez

The current U.S. administration threatens to freeze USAID funding. How will this affect American farmers who sell their produce to USAID for distribution in overseas markets? Contributed by J. Fortier

The Trump team is trying to remove junk food from food stamps. Many lawmakers in the past have tried to ban certain food items from SNAP but have failed to do so. These restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated, and costly which is why banning junk food will not be so easy to do. 

-Amira Alsahli

Jollibee has partnered with Botrista to launch the "Signature Sips" menu in the US, offering customizable drinks like Quenchers, frozen Freezes, and premium teas. This collaboration enhances beverage offerings, boosts sales, and maintains consistent quality, with plans for future innovations.

Contributed by Jenna Phan